Life-saving apparatus.



M. A. MUELLER.

LIFE SAVING APPARATUS.

nruonmn rum) 11:13.17. 1909.

942,009. Patented Nov. 30, 1909.

INVEINTOR ATTORNEYS UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MAX ARTHUR MUELLER, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

LIFE-SAVING APPARATUS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MAX ARTHUR MUEL- LER, a citizen of the United States of America, residing in the borough of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Life- Saving Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to life saving apparatus and particularly to fire escapes, my object being to provide a friction device for use with slide ropes, which is inexpensive as well as simple and eflicient.

In the accompanying drawings in which a device incorporating my invention is shown, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the device in one form; Fig. 2 is a plan of the same applied to a glove; Fig. 3 is a perspective of the device in operation; Figs. 4 and 5 are cross sections of the support showing the same respectively in position for the interlacing of the rope and after the rope has been interlaced and the support pressed into frictional engagement therewith.

My device comprises essentially a frictional support A carrying engaging members B arranged zigzag thereon with which a rope C may be readily interlaced. When the flexible support is suitably compressed the rope is frictionally engaged between said support A and members B and in order to slide through the device the rope must overcome not only the friction arising from its zigzag interlacing with the members B, but the frictional grip of the same between the support A and each of the members B, this of course varying with the extent to which the support is compressed.

It is my object primarily to use this as a hand device and for that purpose provide the support with suitable means for securing the same to the hand as for instance by means of a strap S, or by sewing or fastening the same upon a glove G provided with a wrist strap S This strap is of some importance since by this means the device may be securely fastened to the hand and still operate though the person employing the same may become unconscious.

The particular construction so far found to be the most satisfactory, takes the form Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed February 17, 1909.

Patented Nov. 30, 1909.

Serial No. 478,442.

of a leather, rubber or other material support A to which are riveted hooks B, the latter preferably having shanks b for a reason to be explained. The rope C is readily interlaced with the hooks B if the support A be bent back a little so as to open the space between the surface of the support and the end of the hook. Upon compressing the support in the hand not only is the rope pressed frictionally against each of the hooks, but the zigzag arrangement of the hooks is slightly increased by the pressure exerted upon the ends of the shanks Z). The tendency of the hooks to straighten out into alinement as soon as strain is put upon the rope C is thus overcome.

It is highly desirable that the rope employed be provided with a brake knot K near the lower end so that any excess speed which may have been developed during the descent of the person using the device may be checked. This knot may be of any suitable form, that shown being one that will be loosed by suiiic-ient lengthwise strain on the rope, while below it is arranged a stop knot is which entirely checks further descent.

It is obvious that the device need not be constructed in precisely the manner shown and I do not limit myself to the details described.

I claim as my invention:

1. A friction device for the purpose described, comprising a flexible support and engaging members secured zigzag thereto, said support being adapted to be held in the hand and brought into frictional engagement with a rope interlaced with said engaging members, by the pressure of the hand, substantially as described.

2. A friction device, comprising a flexible support and oppositely faced hooks secured zigzag thereto, said support being adapted to be secured on the hand and by the compression of the latter to frictionally engage between said support and said hooks, a rope interlaced with the latter, substantially as described.

3. A safety device for the purpose described, comprising a flexible support and engaging members secured zigzag thereto, said support being adapted to be held in the hand, in combination with a rope adapted In testimony whereof I have signed my to be interlaced wlth said engaglng memname to thls specification, 1n the presence of bers and brought into frictional engagement two subscriblng Witnesses.

With said engaging members by the pressure NIAX ARTHUR NIUELLER. 5 of the hand, said rope being provided near Witnesses:

its lower end with a check knot substan- GURT EHRENBERG,

tially as described. BENJAMIN THOMPSON. 

